AF ASBO in London
ben | 15.07.2006 18:11 | Culture | Free Spaces | London
Well they've done it again. Some dick with a can of spray paint and nothing better to write or prove has sprayed the initials A F (circle A anarchy style no less) outside the rampART. This wouldn't perhaps be so annoying if A F meant anything in terms of the rampart by virtue of indicating that a group known by those initials actually have anything to do with running the space, but they don't. It wouldn't be so anoying if the letters weren't deliberatly sprayed over a piece of art work that was actually commisioned by those who do run the space....
It's not the first time. In fact it will be the third. The first time the letters appeared was quite early on in the history of the rampART. The same letters appeared on LARC and even a business oposite the East London Mosque. The appearance of the first graffiti at the enterance to the rampART resulted in complaints by local residents about other grafiti in the street which they now decided must have something to do with the squat. It didn't exactly frill us that some random pseudo anarchist had decided to tag the rampART.
Quite some time later we commisioned an artist to do a mural on the wall on either side of the enterance as well as one on the corner of the block to signpost the way in. She began her work but could not finish due to a family crises but within a few weeks the arsehole with his red paint was back and sprayed A F once again dirfectly over the artwork.
When our friend returned to continue the mural she ended up having to fix the damage done by our anonymous anarcho tagger. Insidentally, the local kids who are responsible for most of the other tagging in the street and on the back of the rampart building itself have left the mural alone.
It's also somewhat ironic that we managed to save the mural and other graffiti on the rampART from being cleaned off by the council. Instead we find that somebody who might typically be considered a natural allie has decided to vandalise the efforts of other activists, seemingly for no better reason than to make the A F look like inconsiderate wankers.
Wankers indeed for now the A F tag is back, this time two of them. Both deliberatly sprayed directly over both the start of the mural by the enterance and also over the sign on the corner that point the way to the rampART.
Well, I personally am quite certain that this twat doesn't represent the Anarchist Federation in any way shape or form - of course. But other people might, and they certainly wouldn't be wrong to consider the spray happy individual responsible, somthing of an anti-social wanker.
Quite some time later we commisioned an artist to do a mural on the wall on either side of the enterance as well as one on the corner of the block to signpost the way in. She began her work but could not finish due to a family crises but within a few weeks the arsehole with his red paint was back and sprayed A F once again dirfectly over the artwork.
When our friend returned to continue the mural she ended up having to fix the damage done by our anonymous anarcho tagger. Insidentally, the local kids who are responsible for most of the other tagging in the street and on the back of the rampart building itself have left the mural alone.
It's also somewhat ironic that we managed to save the mural and other graffiti on the rampART from being cleaned off by the council. Instead we find that somebody who might typically be considered a natural allie has decided to vandalise the efforts of other activists, seemingly for no better reason than to make the A F look like inconsiderate wankers.
Wankers indeed for now the A F tag is back, this time two of them. Both deliberatly sprayed directly over both the start of the mural by the enterance and also over the sign on the corner that point the way to the rampART.
Well, I personally am quite certain that this twat doesn't represent the Anarchist Federation in any way shape or form - of course. But other people might, and they certainly wouldn't be wrong to consider the spray happy individual responsible, somthing of an anti-social wanker.
ben
Comments
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re
15.07.2006 20:23
AFer
PR
15.07.2006 21:18
Thats good PR for AF isn't it? Maybe you should tell the people who grafitti ramparts to stop and perhaps apologies? Whats the harm, or do you just wanna state that AF are hostile to occupied social centres and think we should all "have a bath"? If thats the case then propose it at the AF summer camp and issue a statement. 'cos I know it ain't gonna happen as AF people have been involved in social centres, respect the political strategy of them and don't see social centre activists as "hippies" who should "have a bath".
sort it muppet!
why?
16.07.2006 15:56
sarah
Sympathy
16.07.2006 20:18
john
grin and bare it?
16.07.2006 22:13
trill
Annoying manipulation
16.07.2006 22:43
Looks like someone´s out to make us look bad and discredit us!
Honestly, I never thought we were that relevant, as that someone would waist his/her time doing that.
As far as I am concerned I can only be thankful for the support the every one in Rampart has given us in the past. And I am sure the rest of the group feels the same.
M.
AF London (for real!!!)
AFed
question
17.07.2006 11:27
sarah
(addition)
17.07.2006 11:30
sarah
How very odd!
19.07.2006 09:12
Having read the post - this DEFINITELY wasn't us. It seems a bit weird that someone would bother, but it actually looks like someone is on a wind up, on account of the fact it seems to have been done again and again, much to your annoyance.
'kinell.
was the (A) like that or did it have a line all the way through it?
Good luck with rampart, be in topuch with London AF if you need help with anything, i am on ur mailing list.
solidarity.
London AFer 2
Homepage:
http://www.afed.org.uk
London AF communique
21.07.2006 10:35
Nick
(for) London AF
Nick